Folding chair



Sept. 6, 1938. .I Vc. A. BUFFINGTON 2,128,912

' FOLDING CHAIR Filed March 16, 1936- WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1938 er'Arr.V

fr ytrice FOLDING CHAIR Calvin A. Buffngton, Berkshire, N. Y.

Application March 16, 1936, Serial No. 69,234

2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which when in chair formation will have the appearance of a non-folding chair and which may be easily and quickly folded or extended by anyone and when folded will be compact, requiring a minimum space for its accommodation and may be easily carried from one place to another.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chair constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the connection between the seat frame and the supporting structure of the chair.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the fastening means between the seat frame and the supporting structure and its operating means.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the chair in a folded position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeralsl I and 2 indicate front and rear pairs of legs pivotally connected adjacent their lower ends by braces 3. The braces 3 are connected by a cross brace lI. The upper ends of the legs l are pivoted to the forward end of a seat frame 5 carrying a seat Ii. The rear legs 2 project above the seat 6 to form side portions connected by a panel l and connecting member 8. The extended portions of the rear legs, the panel I and connecting member 8 cooperate in forming a chair back.

The combined side members and rear legs are arcuately curved, as shown in Figure l, and the rear legs are connected by a brace 9.

Substantially L-shaped plates I5 are secured to the seat frame 5 and project rearwardly of the rear end of said frame and are pivoted to the combined rear legs and side portions of the chair back, as shown at I I. The L-shaped plates form hinges between the seat frame and the leg structure whereby the seat may be folded against the chair back with the front legs folded to a position adjacent the rear legs. The L-shaped plates operate in slots I formed in the seat frame and the legs 2, and lie within said slots when the chair is in an operative position to prevent lateral movement of the seat frame with respect to the legs 2 and the chair back.

Latch plates I 2 are secured to the combined rear legs and side portions of the chair back and are provided with slots l2 to form keepers for spring catches I3 each in the form of a resilient plate suitably secured to the seat frame and having its free end bent angularly to form a tongue I4 to engage in the slot I2 of the latch plate. The spring catches when in engagement with the latch plates will prevent pivotal movement of the seat frame and consequently prevent the chair from collapsing.

An operating lever I5 is slidably secured to the under face of the seat and has pivoted thereto oppositely extending arms I6, the free ends of which are bent angularly to engage the spring catches I3 whereby movement of the operating lever I5 in one direction will cause a disengagement of the spring catches from their keepers freeing the seat frame for pivotal movement and thereby permit collapsing of the chair. One end of the operating lever I5 is angularly disposed to form a finger piece I'I.

Referring to my modified form of invention, the seat frame 5 is hinged to the extended portion of the rear legs 2 by the L-shaped hinge plates Ill and secured to the extended portions of the rear legs are latch plates I8 of angle iron formation and overlie portions of the hinge plates lil and it is to be noted that the hinge plates are secured to the inner faces of the seat frame 5. Secured to and overlying the portions of the hinge plates which are secured to the seat frame are catches I9 adapted to snap into engagement with the latch plates for securing the chair in operative position. The catches are notched. as shown at 20, to receive the hook-shaped ends 2l of arms 22. These arms 22 are connected to the operating member l5. The catches i9 may be readily disengaged from the latch plates I8 through the manipulation of the operating member I 5 so that the chair may be moved into folded position.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A chair comprising a seat, front and rear legs for supporting the seat, means pivotally connecting the front legs to the seat, means pivotally connecting the seat to the rear legs. latch plates secured to the rear legs and having vertically extending slots therein, vertical resilient plates each having one end secured to a side bar on the underside of the seat and each provided at its free end with an outwardly extending tongue adapted to engage in the slot in the adjacent latch each having one end secured to a side bar on the underside of the seat and each provided at its free end with a tongue to engage a vertical wall of an adjacent latch plate, a pair of oppositely extending arms having their remote ends downwardly bent to engage the inner sides of the resilient plates, and a lever slidably secured to the under face of the seat and pivoted to the adjacent ends of the arms. CALVIN A. BUFFINGTON. 

